Abbazia di Santo Spirito del Morrone

The Abbey of Santo Spirito al Morrone clings to a rocky spur of the Maiella massif near Sulmona in the Abruzzo region, serving as the founding house of the Celestine monastic order. It was established around 1201 by Pietro da Morrone, a hermit monk who would become Pope Celestine V in 1294 — one of history's most reluctant popes, who abdicated just five months after his election and was subsequently imprisoned by his successor. The Romanesque complex is protected as an Italian national monument and falls within the Majella National Park, giving it a rare dual identity as both a sacred site and a mountain heritage landmark. Hiking trails through beech forest lead to the abbey, rewarding visitors with sweeping views across the Peligna Valley.